Short Stories
A LESSON FROM THE PEANUT KING
A Short Story
Written by Dr. Rick McGrath, Ph.D.
Bright and early every morning Larry would wake up, get ready for work and eat his breakfast. Larry who just turned 40 years old always had a positive attitude and loved going to work. Rain or shine, the man always showed up. Larry was the Peanut King of course. He sold bags of peanuts in front of the local department store in Southern California.
Growing up was a struggle for Larry. Along with all the regular challenges most children face, Larry had a few extra he had to deal with, not to include his father who showed extreme shame for his son. Daily his father would tell him he would never amount to anything and that he should just die.
Early on Larry had decided he was going to be somebody and no matter what anyone would say, he was out to prove them wrong. It didn’t matter that he was told he would never have a wife or children. He refused to believe such nonsense. Larry had something that burned inside of him causing him to never give up.
On a cold December 22nd, Roger who was an aspiring evangelist was busily rushing to get his Christmas shopping in. As soon as he got out of the car he heard a voice from God who said, “ When you get up by the door tell the guy in the wheel chair that I am going to heal him so he can walk”. Roger a man of faith and was usually open to most things thought to himself, no problem. As Roger continued walking from the parking lot to the store he saw the man in the wheel chair just as God told him. Oh no, he said to himself. As Roger looked at the man in the wheel chair the poor fellow looked like he had more than a walking problem. Almost beyond description, this man looked as if he was mentally challenged, crippled almost in everyway, and drooled on himself. No way was Roger going to tell him that. Roger saying to himself, not even God can fix this!
Roger passed right by the man in the wheel chair and went into the store to do his shopping. Feeling very convicted that he couldn’t follow God’s order, he was beside himself. Roger thinking to himself, how am I ever going to serve God the way I know I can if I can’t believe? All night he tossed and turned. Roger praying, “Oh God, please give me another chance. I promise next time I will do as you ask”.
Christmas came and went. Roger made sure he didn’t go back to that store, at least for awhile. Like most situations when it comes to the things of God, destiny always catches up. Thinking it was safe Roger happened to have to go to that store again. So Roger drove through the parking lot not seeing the man in the wheel chair thought the cost was clear. He parked his car, hurried to get inside and there he was! The man in the wheel chair. Oh no, thought Roger. It is time to put up or shut up he said to himself. So taking a deep breath he walked up to the man in the wheel chair and he said,
“ I hope you don’t think I’m crazy but God told me to tell you that he was going to heal you and that you would walk”.
Since the man in the wheel chair couldn’t speak, he used a communication board that was made for him to point to letters and symbols. Also having a disability that made it difficult for him to move his arm and point with a crippled hand it was a very slow process. The man in the wheel chair pointed to his letters and symbols and asked Roger,
“Are you a Jehovah Witness?”
“No” Roger replied.
“Good!” he pointed again to his board.
Then he proceed to tell Roger about himself.
Using his board he said, “ God told me years ago that he would provide me with a wife, children, and a home I could call my own. He also told me that he was going to heal me.”
Roger thinking, WOW! Looking at the condition of this man it is hard to imagine that any of that could be remotely possible. Roger continued to listen as the man continued pointing out his story.
“Sixteen years ago, as promised, God provided me with a loving wife. A year later we had our first child. I have two boys now 14 and one 13 years old. Recently I bought a house and I make payments every month. God supplies me with enough money each month to feed my family and pay all my bills on time. Come back here tomorrow at 5 P.M. and I will introduce my family to you,” said the man.
Roger can’t believe what he is hearing. All of this from someone that looks like that? So Roger said to him, “ Sounds good. I will see you tomorrow and look forward to meeting your family”.
Sure enough when Roger showed up at 5 P.M. as instructed, the man in the wheel chair was there with his wife and two sons. Roger almost fell over.
“God did all of this for you,” he asked?
“Yes!” “You see, everyday I motor myself from home to the store here where I sit and I sell enough peanuts to take care of us. My wife doesn’t work outside our home. Here is what God told me to tell you young man.” said the Peanut King.
“God is in the business of doing the miraculous. He is and always will be the Way Maker,” the Peanut King went on saying on his symbol board.
“ I know without a doubt that soon I will be up walking around healed. God didn’t send you to me for my benefit, but for yours!” he finished saying.
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